News and blog

Happy Friday, Farm Friends!Can you believe it is the end of August? Where did the year go? It really seems like it was just a few weeks ago that I was thinking that it was too early to plant some crops...now it has become too late for some and just right for others! Ah, the cycle of farming!

Our attentions have been focused on slighly more adminstrative tasks this week. We learned last week that our annual organic inspection had been scheduled for next Wednesday. This is when our organic certifying agency sends an inspector in to spend about 3-4 hours with us to review all of our records, conduct crop audits, and do a thorough walk-through of the farm. Even though this is our 4th annual inspection, it is pretty intense and we spend a lot of time getting prepared. This is on top of the hours that we spend preparing our annual report. Organic certification is serious business -- but what it means is a very clear standard that all farms who are certified organic must follow. The rules and regulations are very clear and thorough. For example, a farm cannot call its products "organic" unless they are actually certified organic (or make under $5,000 on the sale of these products). As customers, you need to ask to make sure that the products you buy are what you think they are. You should always ask the farmer! And keep your fingers crossed for us for the audit!

Moving on to lighter subjects, it seems that the farm has been designated as a safe haven for all types of creatures. First it was Mama Meow and her 5 kittens. Now we seem to have been adopted by a chicken! Her favorite place just happens to be under the bird feeder...no surprise there! We think she fell off of a Perdue truck and wandered around in the neighborhood for a while before finding "Chicky Heaven"Here’s a quick preview what we’ll have on our table on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

We'll also have Brown Turkey figs -- not certified organic but not sprayed. The yummy raspberry jams will be available as will our Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce. The Blackberry Sauce is back as well -- ready for a big bowl of ice cream!

Hope to see you at market! You can always contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

As school gets ready to start and the dogwood tree starts to show a hint of color, we are starting to think about Fall. We are seeding our kale, chard, lettuce and frissé to get ready for fall planting. The greens field will be more than twice as big as last year, so we'll have even more kale and other good greens than ever!

We are also trying a different approach to our strawberries. Instead of buying new plants (expensive!), we are starting our own from runners in the field. There are LOTS of nicely rooted baby plants out there -- all we have to do is lift them out of the soil, trim them from the "mother" and plant them into trays. Voila! New strawberry plants! We have more than enough to cover the empty slots in the strawberry field so we will be able to sell the plants in about 4 weeks -- just in time for you to plant strawberries at home! Here's a glimpse of what it looks like in the greenhouse:

The raspberries decided to hang on for another week -- so we can offer one more PYO day for raspberries. Just like before, if you don't mind doing a little "hunting and gathering," there are berries out there! The raspberry field will be open tomorrow (SATURDAY, 8/24) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. We provide containers and the price is $7 per pound. So bring your best hunting skills and patience and snatch up the last berries of the year. There are Caroline, Josephine and Heritage berries available. If you want to make sure you get berries, you'd best come on the earlier side of the morning! We can probably handle about 6 groups of pickers. Here’s a quick preview what we’ll have on our table on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

We'll also have a bunch of Brown Turkey figs -- not certified organic but not sprayed and grown organically. The yummy raspberry and blackberry jams will be available as will our Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce. The Blackberry Sauce is back as well -- ready for a big bowl of ice cream! Hope to see you at market or at the farm for the PYO! You can always contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.Here's to enjoying the tastes of Summer and early Fall!

Everywhere you go, people are always talking about the weather! What a strange wet, cool summer it has been! Cheryl just got back from South Dakota and the same is true there -- so we aren't alone!

It appears that our raspberries peaked a week or so ago but we are going to have one more PYO day for raspberries. If you don't mind doing a little "hunting and gathering," there are berries out there! The raspberry field will be open tomorrow (SATURDAY, 8/17) from 9 a.m. to noon. We provide containers and the price is $7 per pound. So bring your best hunting skills and patience and snatch up the last berries of the year. There are Caroline, Josephine and Heritage berries available. If you want to make sure you get berries, you'd best come on the earlier side of the morning!

Here’s a quick preview what we’ll have on our table on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

Another week of berries around the farm! The raspberries are doing well -- even the Heritage berries are starting to ripen. To help us with this abundance, we have scheduled another pick your own tomorrow (SATURDAY, 8/10) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We provide containers and the price is $7 per pound for raspberries. Picking raspberries in the shadow of Cook's Wall. Photo courtesy of Randy Fulk.

Did you know that this is National Farmers Market week? The number and quality of markets across the country has been exploding! According to the USDA, there was a 3.6% increase in farmers markets nationally between 2012 and 2013! We can definitely see that trend here in the Piedmont! We love going to market each week and having an opportunity to interact with you, our loyal customers. We know that we can count on you to tell us if something is wrong with a product or the latest recipe you've tried with one of our items. You can trust us to bring high quality, certified organic produce that you can feel good serving to your family. What a wonderful partnership!Speaking of farmers markets, here’s a preview what we’ll have on our table on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

We have a new batch of of the Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce and Raspberry-Extra Baby Ginger Jam as well as Old Fashioned Raspberry and Blackberry jams -- we've been jamming with fresh berries!

Hope to see you at market or at the farm for the PYO! You can always contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Plum Granny Farm -- you either signed up at a market or on our website. We are glad to have this brief opportunity to share some news of the farm with you!

Happy Friday, Farm Friends! And Happy August!

Despite the rather unfavorable, damp (shall we say drenched?) conditions last Saturday, we still had several groups of berry pickers with smiles on their faces! And the berries just keep on rolling! Let's do it again, shall we (the picking, not the rain) - we'll have another pick your own on SUNDAY (8/4) from 1 to 4 p.m. We provide containers and the prices are $4 per pound for blackberries and $7 per pound for raspberries. This will be the last opportunity for blackberries, so pick 'em while you can!

Markets are in full swing with summer bounty! Our fellow farmers and producers are bringing some beautiful things to market. Here’s a preview what we’ll have on our table on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

We'll have a new batch of Old Fashioned Raspberry and Blackberry jams as well as our other flavors. The last (for a while) of the Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce will be available - hurry up before it's gone!!

Hope to see you at market or at the farm for the PYO! You can always contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

Berries, berries, berries! Yes, it's that time folks! Blackberry and raspberry time! We'll have our first pick your own of the year TOMORROW (7/27) from 9 to noon! Head on out for some good picking! The berries are looking gorgeous -- and man, are they tasty (but you know that, right?) The current weather forecast calls for temperatures in the low to mid-70s and a 30% chance of rain. Sounds like a winner!! Just as a reminder, the farm is located at the intersection of Hwy 66 and Flat Shoals Road 4.3 miles from the traffic light at Mountainview Road and Hwy 66. We'll have a few directional signs out as well. For more complete directions, please check our website.

My cousin, Taylor, showing off his "pickins'" from last year!

Here’s a preview what we’ll have at market on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

Wow! What a week it's been! We had a terrific time with the crew from Flavor NC! They are consumate professionals and helped us feel very much at ease as we had several conversations with them about the farm and our products. They were very interested in the garlic - spent lots of time at the Tobacco Barn cleaning garlic and seeing how it is hung in "hammocks" as well as at the Yam Barn where we hung garlic in the Net. The ginger and turmeric were also stars -- the crew was fascinated with it and even decided to spend a bit more time on the topic. The segment should air sometime this fall - possibly October. We'll keep you posted. Here is a picture of Ray and Lisa Prince, Flavor NC host, in the greenhouse.

The garlic is curing nicely -- a bit more slowly because of all of the rain -- but it is looking great. We'll have the first of it at market Saturday. Blackberries are also producing nicely -- should have lots of blackberries at market! We are watching the berries very closely and when we pick today we will determine if we have enough berries for a Pick-Your-Own Sunday (7/21). We will make a decision no later than Saturday morning so please check the website (www.plumgrannyfarm.com) or call (336-994-2517) to see if it is on.

Here’s a preview what we’ll have at market on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

Certified Organic Produce:

Blackberries

Raspberries (a few)

Garlic (Red Toch, Music, Chesnok, Elephant)

Garlic Scapes

Shallots

Oriental Lilies (Stargazer)

We'll also have our luscious fruit-forward raspberry and blackberry jams along with the popular Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce! Please stop by for a taste!

Don't forget! Please help us get to 500 Likes on Facebook before the end of July! "Like" us today!!

Hope to see you at market! You can always contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Plum Granny Farm -- you either signed up at a market or on our website. We are glad to have this brief opportunity to share some news of the farm with you!

Happy Friday, Farm Friends!

Just a really quick note this week -- we have been extremely busy trying to get ready for our upcoming shoot with the crew from Flavor NC! We are looking forward to having Lisa, Theresa and David here on Tuesday and share with them a little bit about the farm. Their main focus will be garlic but they are also interested in our blackberries, ginger and turmeric and jam. Lots to prepare for! We'll let you know how it went in next week's note! Keep your fingers crossed for us!

All of the garlic is now in and the blackberries are kicking into gear! We'll have more blackberries at market this week! The Triple Crown are also rocking so we'll likely have a Pick-Your-Own next Sunday (7/21) -- but as usual with the PYO events, things can change so please check first!!

Here’s a preview what we’ll have at market on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

Certified Organic Produce:

Blackberries

Raspberries (a few)

Fresh Garlic (Persian Star,Nootka Rose, Elephant)

Shallots

Elephant Garlic Flowers

Shallot Flowers

Oriental Lilies (Stargazer and Acapulco)

We'll also have our luscious fruit-forward raspberry and blackberry jams along with the popular Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce! Please stop by for a taste!

Again, thanks so much for your support! Remember that we are trying to increase our numbers of “Likes” on Facebook. Check out our page there and "Like" us -- we are trying to get to 500 Likes before the end of July!

Hope to see you at market! Don't forget to contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Plum Granny Farm -- you either signed up at a market or on our website. We are glad to have this brief opportunity to share some news of the farm with you!

Happy Friday, Farm Friends! Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!

Lots of things happening on the farm -- mostly focused on garlic, of course! We have everything out of the fields with the exception of one variety, Nootka Rose. As a silverskin, this variety is one of the last to come out. We are also trying to hold it in order to use it for an upcoming segment of WUNC-TV's Flavor NC! Yes, we will be featured in an upcoming segment and they will focus on our garlic! How exciting!! We'll share more information on this next week!

A great boost to our garlic harvesting was the "Crop Mob" that we had last week! What a wonderful group of volunteers who came out for the day to help us harvest, clean and hang garlic. We harvested "Music" (our best selling variety) and it was GORGEOUS! Based on the picture and quick post that I put on Facebook after Friday's event, I was contacted by The Stokes News and asked to write an article on the crop mob and our garlic. It ran this week in The Independent and will be in The Stokes News next week. Check it out!

A HUGE shout-out to our great group of volunteers who helped bring in the garlic!

Somehow with all the rain we are having, the blackberries are finally starting to ripen. We'll have a good number of them at market this week (that is if it can quit raining long enough for me to pick!). The Navajos and Ouachitas are coming in now and the yummy Triple Crowns will be ready in a couple of weeks. Once we have a good number of Triple Crown, we'll open up the field for a Pick-Your-Own!

Here’s a preview what we’ll have at market on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

Certified Organic Produce:

Blackberries

Fresh Garlic (Chesnok, Music, Persian Star, Red Toch, Elephant)

Garlic Scapes

Elephant Garlic Flowers

Shallot Flowers

Baby Kale Mix

Oriental Lilies (Stargazer and Acapulco)

We'll also have our luscious fruit-forward raspberry and blackberry jams along with the popular Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce! Please stop by for a taste!

Remember the kittens and mama cat from the last post? Well, we are definitely trying to find homes for 3 or 4… so if you or a friend would like to know more about a great little kitten (with terrific mousing genes!), please let me know!

Again, thanks so much for your support! Remember that we are trying to increase our numbers of “Likes” on Facebook. Check out our page there and "Like" us -- we are trying to get to 500 Likes before the end of July!

Hope to see you at market! Don't forget to contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

Happy Friday, Farm Friends! And Happy First Full Day of Summer! This week has been mostly focused on garlic harvest. Have pulled three varieties so far and they are looking really good! All the rain we had on Tuesday slowed us down some but it's not going badly. It sure is nice having such cool weather for this work - last year during garlic harvest , the temperatures were more like the 90s instead of this year's plesant low 80s! Nice! We are trying some new approaches to our harvest this year - trimming the roots and cleaning the bulbs pretty thoroughly before we rack or hang them. We'll see how it works - every year we try to improve our technique!

We finally got all of the raspberries planted including the black raspberries! Unfortunately we won't have berries on the blacks until next year but the reds should produce. But get your mouth all ready for blackberries! The blackberries should really start coming in around the first week in July - we have a few now but not enough for market. There may be a pick-your-own in the future! Here’s a preview what we’ll have at market on Saturday (Old Salem) and Wednesday (King):

We'll also have our luscious fruit-forward raspberry and blackberry jams along with the popular Raspberry-Chipotle Molé Grilling and Cooking Sauce! Please stop by for a taste!

I'll close with a bit of cuteness - when we were cleaning garlic at the Tobacco Barn, we kept hearing mewing. Christian and Ray went out to investigate and found 3 kittens about 8 weeks old. We were able to catch them and put them into a dog crate (of course!). After lunch today, we were able to get the mama cat and 2 more babies. We want to get them spayed and neutered and may keep them as barn cats...unless any of you wants an adorable kitten!

Thanks for your support of our farm and our work! It means so much to us to have great friends and supporters like you! In case you are on Facebook, check out our page there and "Like" us -- we are trying to get to 500 Likes before the end of July!

Hope to see you at market! Don't forget to contact us if you'd like to have an item saved.

Would you like to get a box of delicious, Organic food every week? Do you like to cook? Do you want to ensure that your family is getting the freshest and safest food available? Check out our PlumFresh Harvest Subscription program! It offers you incredible flexibility without big upfront charges. For more information, click here.

Our Online Store is Ready to Serve You!

Our online store is fully stocked and waiting for your orders! Click here to go right to the shelves. You'll find our popular fruit-forward Jams (regular and gift-size jars), Garlic Powder and Granules as well as our new Ginger Powder and Lavender Sachets!

Do you want the latest news from the farm? How about the opportunity to reserve items for pick-up at market? Join our mailing list for our "Plum Granny Farm Weekly Update"!

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Watch Us!

Check out the terrific feature that Flavor, NC did on Plum Granny Farm! You can view the episode at http://video.unctv.org/video/2365069548/ They did a great job showing our garlic, ginger & berry production - plus a few other surprises! We are paired with Chef Jay from Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen who makes some wonderful garlic recipes! Enjoy!